Geriatrics Is Your Future!

The Society for the Advancement of Geriatric Anesthesia (SAGA) originated from the American Society of Anesthesiologists Committee on Geriatric Anesthesia as it became increasingly apparent that the size and scope of the mission of improving geriatric anesthesia care required an independent professional organization. SAGA officially began on October 16, 2000, at a special meeting in conjunction with the ASA Annual Meeting that year. 

SAGA’s purpose is to improve the care of the older patient having surgery. Successful outcomes in the elderly can only be achieved through care that encompasses all aspects of the surgical experience. Preoperative evaluation and postoperative care, including discharge planning and support service, are as important, if not more important, than anesthetic care. Involvement of anesthesiologists in all aspects of care is useful, and SAGA encourages the interaction of anesthesiology personnel with other health care providers to optimize care. To facilitate such interaction, membership in SAGA by nonanesthesia providers is encouraged, just as SAGA members are encouraged to be involved in nonanesthesia medical societies. 

Much of our efforts involve educational programs provided in cooperation with other anesthesiology societies. This year, in cooperation with the Society for Ambulatory Anesthesia (SAMBA), SAGA presented “Hypertension in the Geriatric Patient: How High Is Too High?” with Sheila R. Barnett, M.D., at the SAMBA 19th Annual Meeting on April 29-May 2 in Seattle, Washington. Also in April, the Society for Cardiovascular Anesthesia (SCA) presented “The Geriatric Heart” with Savid Amar, M.D., and Leanne Groban, M.D., and discussed “Atrial Fibrillation and Other Common Dysrhythmias in the Aged-Heart Implications” and “Management of Diastolic Dysfunction in the Older Heart” at the SCA 26th Annual Meeting on April 24-28 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

On page 9 in this issue of the NEWSLETTER, Sheila R. Barnett, M.D., discusses a new joint project between the ASA Committee on Geriatric Anesthesia, SAGA and the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) to develop a full curriculum for geriatric anesthesiology.

SAGA is an active supporter of perioperative geriatric research. As part of our cooperative effort with ASA and AGS, Dr. Groban was named a Dennis W. Jahnigen Career Development Scholar this year. Dr. Groban will study the role of GH/IGF-1 in diastolic heart failure in aging. More information on the Jahnigen Scholar Program is available at <www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/awards.shtml>.

This year SAGA is initiating its newsletter. You can sign up for our newsletter and arrange to join SAGA via our Web site at <societywebsite.com/saga>. The SAGA Annual Meeting is currently held the evening of the Friday preceding the ASA Annual Meeting. This year the meeting will be held in Ballroom F from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Las Vegas Hilton on Friday, October 22. The meeting consists of a business program followed by a short educational program. There will be food to eat and time for people to chat and discuss issues of common interest. The membership is small but enthusiastic! Join us — geriatrics is your future.

Jeffrey H. Silverstein, M.D., is Associate Professor for Research,Vice-Chair for Research and Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Surgery, Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.